A Creative Alchemist Enjoys His Freedom – After Being Banished from His Hometown, He Is Now Free to Create Magical Items with Incredible Effects Under the Control of the Demon King - Episode 1

Episode 1: “The Day I Was Banished”

“My son, Thor Regus. The great Dorgalian Empire has decided to send you to another country as a hostage. The carriage has already arrived. It’s a great honour to use your life for the sake of our Regus family.

　These were the words my father spoke to me for the first time in two years.
　My father distorted his lips with a face that looked like he thought of something pleasant.
　It didn’t make any sense to me, though.

“Father, I don’t understand. Why am I being held hostage in another country…?”
“Because it doesn’t matter even if you die.”

　My father, Duke Regus, spat.
　Next to him, the Duke’s household butler and the captain of the guard were bursting out in laughter.

　”Neither of them even looked at me.”

　This was the residence of Duke Regus, located in the imperial capital.
　In other words, my parents’ house.
　I was listening to my father, Duke Balga Regus, in the office of the family’s head.

　I had already severed ties with the Duke family a long time ago.
　At the age of 13, I managed to find a job and left home.
   For the next four years, I lived as a commoner.
　I had no intention of ever coming to the Duke’s house again.

　And yet today, while I was at work, a soldier from the Duke’s family came and brought me here without any questions.

　 My colleague and my boss saw us off in silence.
　 It was not their fault that the opponent was just too bad.
　The Duke’s family was the highest-ranking noble family. There was no way a commoner could defy them.

　So I was put into a carriage and brought to the Duke’s mansion.
　Then I was dragged into my father’s office, and here I was talking with him.

“What does it mean that it doesn’t matter even if I die?”

　There was no reply.

“I’ve already left the Duke family. I don’t even use the surname Regus. I’m currently working as a civil servant for the Empire. My duties include paperwork, inventory management, and repairing items. It’s a mundane job, but I haven’t made any mistakes.”
“Shut up, you idiot! You’re a disgrace to our Duke’s lineage!”

　My father slammed the table.

“If you’re worthless, you should just shut up and die. Why are you arguing with me?”
“…It’s because I don’t understand what you’re saying, Father.”
“Why don’t you understand?!”

　There was no way to understand.
    There was not much explanation other than 『you’ll be sent out as hostage』 and 『They don’t mind me dying』.

“I’ve said this before, haven’t I? Our dukedom has no need for people without combat skills!!”

　The Duke’s shouts reverberated throughout the room.

　But… why did it look like I had been told something unreasonable?
　Even though I was the one who had been forced to come here and was being yelled at.

“My ancestors took up the sword alongside successive kings and built the Dorgalia Empire. Our founding emperor was also a hero who fought alongside the Hero! The great imperial family is the pride of all the people of the empire.”
“I know, Father.”
“Therefore, all citizens of the Empire value strength above all else. This is especially true for aristocrats. Our dukedom must be an example to other nobles and all citizens! But you!”

　Just by looking at my father’s expression, I knew what was coming next.

“You have no combat skills! You can’t even use offensive magic! This is the eldest son of a duke whose grandfather was known as the 『Sword Saint』! Do you know the despair I felt when I found out that fact!?”

　It was a line I was familiar with since I was a child.
　I had already figured out how to respond.

    If I answered, 『I know』, he would say, 『How could you know that?』 With a fist, come flying at me.
    If I answered 『I don’t know』, I would be hit with a wooden sword and told, 『Why don’t you know?!』
　So I had no choice but to stay silent.

“──It seems you have no words. Then, Guards’s Captain! Butler! State the crimes of Thor Regus!”
“Haaa!!”

　The captain of the guard, dressed in black armour, and the butler, in a black suit, stepped forward.

“──At the temple, when he was 10 years old, Thor Regus was appraised for his skill. The report said that he had no combat skills. That is unacceptable for the eldest son of a duke.”
“──At the age of 12, the second skill appraisal was held. In addition to combat skills, I checked magic skills, but there was no offensive magic skill. As an aristocrat, it’s an unbelievable blunder.

　As soon as they finished talking, the two turned away and left.

　This was how those without combat skills were treated.

　The Dorgalian Empire expanded its territory through military force.
　That was why both nobles and commoners placed great importance on combat ability.
　In particular, nobles who lacked combat skills were looked down upon because all the other nobles around them had superior combat skills.

　That was why I left the dukedom.
　I took the exam to become a civil servant, doing paperwork and repairing items.

　I had done my job properly. Document work was suitable for me.
　Plus, there were times when I could use my skills.

“Certainly, I don’t have any skills suited to combat.”

　I looked back at the Duke and said,

“But I have the 『Alchemy』 skill.

　I could see my father’s face contort.
　It was the same expression he had when he heard the results of my skill appraisal at the ages of 10 and 12.
　I continued.

“My 『Alchemy』 skill is useful for repairing and mending items. In fact, I’ve been entrusted with the task of managing items at the government office. If my skills improve, I might be able to create new items. I’ll save up money and eventually set up my own workshop.”
“Such things have no value!!”
“Father!”
“All the people of the Empire compete to be the strongest! There is no need to go any other way! Besides, the Empire has the holy swords and holy shields used by heroes. You’re saying to make new items… When Empire already have the strongest items? Does that mean you’re rejecting the Empire’s ways!?”
“That’s not true! I…”
“Rejecting the Empire’s ways is tantamount to rebellion against His Majesty the Emperor!”

　The Duke kicked the table.
　A heavy table easily rolls.
　The duke had combat skills. It seemed that it hadn’t faded yet.

“──Really? You don’t deserve to be an aristocrat.”
“──I thought that even after leaving the Dukedom, you would still have some pride left, but this is…”

　The guards’s captain and the butler were laughing quietly.
　The duke yelled as he watched them.

“The decision has already been made to send you off as a hostage. Stop whining!”
“I understand that it has already been decided…”

　…I guessed it was no use after all.
　My father and his subordinates didn’t understand what I was saying.

　That was enough.
　If I couldn’t communicate, at very least I could try to get some information out of them.

“But what about using my life?”
“Because it’s a dangerous place for you to go.”
“A dangerous place?”
“We sent hostages from the Empire several decades ago, but they all went missing. No one who went there has ever returned.”
“Where am I being sent?”

　When I asked, my father gave a smirk.
　That was all I needed to know the answer.

“Could this be the Demon Lord’s territory?!”
“I appreciate your perception.”

　As he spoke, my father shook his head.

“──No, if you were truly perceptive, you would have understood my feelings and committed suicide when you were still young. The fact that you’re still alive means that you’re truly incompetent──”

　That didn’t matter to me.
　I never thought the Duke would go this far.
　He was planning to send me into enemy territory.

　Several centuries ago, the Demon King and the human kingdom were fighting over territory on the continent.
　The Demon King invaded towards the south, accompanied by his mighty demon army.
　The Demon King and his demons were powerful, but the human heroes were also strong.
　After a fierce battle, the heroes used their weapons and magic to drive the demon king back.

　Afterwards, a border was laid between the human world and the Demon King’s territory.
　Beyond the forest in the north of the empire lies the Demon King territory, where ​​demons and demi-humans live.
　South of there is the human world.

　Since the boundary was established, there had been no major conflicts.
　Humans and demons lived without invading each other’s territories.

　However, the Demon King’s Kingdom was still a mystery.
　On the contrary, the Demon King and his demons, who were driven to the northern lands, were said to hate humans.
　Therefore, there would had been almost no interaction between the Demon King’s territory and the human world.

“…I didn’t know that there was an exchange between the Empire and the Demon King’s territory.”
“You don’t understand politics. Our Dorgalia Empire is the closest to the Demon King’s territory. Even though the Demon King doesn’t interfere, we still need to take precautions.”

　The Duke spat out.

“That’s why we have the Empire offer hostages to the Demon King’s Territory once every few decades. They’re bloodthirsty beings, so we appease them by offering hostages—no, sacrifices.”

“──Demon kings and demons are like savage beasts after all.”
“──They prove their strength by killing humans.”

“──Ah, that’s why the Demon King’s territory is so quiet.”

　The Duke and his two subordinates were laughing together.
　I felt chills.
　These guys really wanted me to die, which was why I couldn’t get through them.
　Because there was no need to talk to someone who was going to die.

“My work here is done. I already told you the carriage is already here to pick you up, so get the hell out of here.”

　The Duke waved his hand.
　That was the signal for the soldiers waiting outside the room to come in. The four of them restrained Thor.
　I twisted my body involuntarily, but I couldn’t shake them off.

“Can’t you escape from the restraint of the soldiers? You really don’t have the skills for combat. How could such an incompetent be child born to my Duke family…”

“──How pitiful, My Lord Duke.”
“──I understand your feelings.”
“But those shameful days end today.”

     The guards’s captain smiled brightly as the butler handed the handkerchief to the Duke to wipe his tears.
　I felt nauseous.
　I should have refused the physical examination before entering the room.
　I should have thrown the stone I was carrying around as a material for alchemy at his face.

“──I hate you, Duke Balga Regus.”
“Corpses don’t speak.”
“If you want to send someone to the Demon King’s territory, you should go yourself. Tell the Emperor about the information you collected from their territory!”
“The Empire has defeated the Demon King’s territory. Is it necessary to collect information on the country of the loser??”
“…You’re too careless. You’re finished. You──”

　Goshh (punching sound)

    I felt a shock impact on my belly.
　I could feel the Duke’s fist sinking into it.
　My breathing suddenly stopped, and I lost my voice.

　The butler wiped the Duke’s fist with a handkerchief.
　The reason he stopped after one hit was because he would be in trouble if I died before I reached the Demon King’s territory.

“…………You’re the worst father.”
“Take him.”

　The Duke waved his hand.

“As a new day will begin for our dukedom, the shame of my family is finally gone. I have no doubt that our dukedom will be well regarded by his Majesty the Emperor.”

　And so I was banished from the empire where I was born and raised.